Henry f



(No Model.)

H. P. HELMBoL-DT,

Patented Jan. ll, 1898.

l/tessas s vere shocks or jars, and also to so cling to i UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE HENRY F. HELMBOLDT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ASAHEL M. SHURTLEFF, OF SAMEVPLAOE.

TOE-CLIP.

SPEGIFICATON forming part 0f Letters Patent N0. 597,183, dated January 11, 1898.

Application filed November 25,1895. Serial No. 569,996. (No model.)

To all whom t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. HELMBoLDr, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Toe-Clips, of which the following description,

the shoe as to enable the rider when pedaling at a very rapid rate to always keep power on the pedal both when in its descending and ascending arcs. i

Hit-herto toeclips have extended backwardly over the toe of the shoe vand have borne on the top of the foot. The toe-clip of my invention contains a toe stop against which the toe of the shoe is adapted to rest, the stop being preferablyadj ustable, and two arms which partially embrace the upper of the shoe and consequently the foot of the rider somewhat back from the toe end of the shoe, said arms permitting free movement of the foot-joints, yet serving to keep the foot down firmly on the body-plate of the toe-clip. These arms have their portions which rise above the sole of the shoe inclined preferably to conform to the tapering shape of the toe of the shoe, and they are made adjustable to adapt them to the shape of the shoe across the toe.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of one form of my improved toe-clip. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof. Fig. 2fL shows one of the arms B detached.

Referring to the drawings, the body or foot plate A, preferably of sheet-steel, has a suitable ear ot', provided With a slot a2 to receive a suitable holt by which to attach the plate independent piece adjustably secured to the plate by bolts'ct a5, extended through slots c c', nuts N N' being applied to the bolts, part of the toe-stop being guided in a guideway, shown as made by bending two lugs under the plate. By adjusting the toe-stop'longitudinally the toe-clip may be adapted to the length of the toe of the shoe.

The arms or grippers B are preferably made bybending two pieces of sheet-steel into the shape shown, one (see Figs. 2 and T) shown asslotted at h to surround the bolt a3 and move thereon between the plate A and one end of the under portion of the toeestop, certain lips as being shown as bent under from the plate A to act as guides or holders on the saidV arms B.' A strong spring h3, held in place, as shown, by a screwr h4, acts on pins b2 of the arms B and holds them in a yielding manner. There are several of these pins h2, and the arms may be slid to the right or left in the guides as to fit a right or left foot shoe. The toe-stop may be adjusted in the direction of the length of the shoe and the arms in the width of the shoe, each independently of the other, to adapt themto the requirement of the shoe Worn by the rider.

The arms or grippers are C-shaped, as shown, to lap over the upper of a shoe at its toe part, the sole of which is pressed on the body-plate, the said arms being adjustable diagonally,as shown, on said body-plate with relation to a line drawn through the latter in the direction of its length, so that the arms are thereby made to adapt themselves to the shape of the shoe toward its ball or Widest part.

The arms or grippers B may be of metal more or less resilient.

The arms or grippers engage the shoe or foot between the ball or toe-joints and the toe end thereof to keep the foot correctly and unerriugly on the pedals, and the toe-stop keeps the foot from going too far forward; but it Will be obvious that the rider has it in his power by quickly retracting the foot to remove the toe of the shoe trom the toe-clip, this being necessary in case of threatened ao cident. The downward curve or spring of the arms over the foot may be more or less, according to the pressure With Which it is desired to hold the foot, and to effect this the IOO arms B may be bent more or less.- The spring b3, acting on the pins h, will normallyk draw the arms B inwardly to grasp the shoe in a somewhat yieldingmanner or so that when the shoe is applied between the arms they will be somewhat separated with a spring action. When the arms are to be used in this way, the nut N will be somewhat loosened, so as not to clamp the arms B immovably, and to prevent loss of the nut I have provided the outer end of the bolt with a small cross-pin 16. lVhen the nut N is set down tight, the arms will be held firmly and the spring will not be effective. l

Referring toFig. 2, it will be seen that the width of the arms B is considerably less than the distance between the inner or step edges of the overturned lugs as and that the slots b are wider than the diameter of the bolt a3,

and as a resultof this the arms when the nut N is loosened may -be turned more or less to adapt the inner step edges of the arms tothe inclination of the edge of the sole of the shoe.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A bicycle toe-clip, composed of a bodyplate provided at its rear end with a slotted ear for attachment to the pedal and with guideways, an adjustable toe-stop in the form of a flat slotted strip of metal bent upwardly at its front end above the body-plate, two independent C-shaped slotted arms or grippers, parts of said arms being extended under said body-plate and cooperating with said guide- Ways, the outer free ends of said arms being bent upwardly and inwardly terminating above said bod y-plate to overlap the upper of a shoe the sole of which is pressed on the body-plate, the said arms being adjustable on said body-.plate to move said outer ends diagonally with relation to a line drawn through the body-plate in the direction of its length, whereby the arms are made to adapt themselves to the taper of the shoe toward its ball, or widest portion, and a suitable bolt to hold the said arms in adjusted position, substantially as described.

2. The body-plate, the adjustable toe-stop, the arms or grippers B, B, and the bolt CL3 and nut N normally loose combined with a device to prevent the escape of the said loose nut, and a spring centrally secured to said plate and connecting at either end to one of said arms or grippers, substantially as described.

3. A bicycle toe-clip, composed of a bodyplate provided at its rear end with means for attachment to the forward edge of the pedal, a toe-stop bent up at the front end of and extending above said plate, two independent C-shaped arms or grippers, slotted in their lower ends for lateral adjustment, clamping means to rigidly clamp said arms in desired adjustment on the body-plate to suit different widths of shoes, said arms being located at the rear of said body-plate next to the pedal, and being extended at their upper ends to overhang the body-plate and approximately meeting over the middle rear part thereof to substantially encompass the lshoe at its line of iieXure in pedaling, forming a pocket into which the shoeof the rider may be inserted at will, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. j y

` HENRY F. I-IELMBOLDT. Vitnesses:

-GEo. W. GREGORY, EMMA J. BENNETT. 

